Allegra was left the share after Gianni was shot dead in Miami, Florida in
1997, but she has had to wait until her 18th birthday today (30JUN04) to assume
control.

Allegra's mother DONATELLA owns 20 per cent of VERSACE and has controlled
the fashion house with her brother SANTO, the company chairman - but Allegra
will now have the final say in the label's attempts to improve flagging sales
and secure its
place on fashion's A-list.

Managing Director DANIELE BALLESTRAZZI says,"Allegra has decided to take
full responsibility for her quota and exercise her prerogatives.

"Nothing will change. It will just make decision-making more fluid as
we'll no longer need to go through her lawyers on questions of strategy."